# CVE-2026-40288: MervinPraison PraisonAI RCE via job workflow YAML

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-40288-mervinpraison-praisonai-rce-via-job-workflow-yaml  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-04-14. Updated: 2026-05-11  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-40288 · Severity: critical · CVSS 9.8 · Published 2026-04-14

PraisonAI, an AI agent and workflow framework, is vulnerable to a critical security flaw that allows for remote code execution. By providing a specially crafted workflow file, an attacker can force the system to execute arbitrary commands or Python scripts on the host machine. This could lead to a total takeover of the server or development environment where the software is running.

Technologies: [Praisonai](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/praisonai), [Praisonaiagents](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/praisonaiagents), [praisonai (PyPI)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/pypi-praisonai), [praisonaiagents (PyPI)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/pypi-praisonaiagents). Vendors: [Praison](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/praison), [PyPI](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/pypi).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-40288 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-40288 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-40288?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 9.8, published 14 April 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** praisonai (PyPI) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=4.5.139; praisonaiagents (PyPI) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=1.5.140.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-40288?** Yes. praisonai (PyPI): upgrade to 4.5.139 or later; praisonaiagents (PyPI): upgrade to 1.5.140 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-40288 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-40288?** Check whether you run Praisonai, Praisonaiagents, praisonai (PyPI) or one of the others listed at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- praisonai (PyPI): upgrade to 4.5.139 or later

  ```sh
  pip install "praisonai>=4.5.139"
  ```

- praisonaiagents (PyPI): upgrade to 1.5.140 or later

  ```sh
  pip install "praisonaiagents>=1.5.140"
  ```


## Technical details

A remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability exists in PraisonAI due to the unsafe execution of commands defined in YAML workflow files. When a workflow with 'type: job' is processed, the JobWorkflowExecutor in 'job_workflow.py' uses subprocess.run() for 'run' keys, exec() for 'script' keys, and direct execution for 'python' keys without sufficient sanitization or sandboxing. An attacker can provide a malicious YAML file to achieve arbitrary command execution on the host. The vulnerability is addressed in PraisonAI version 4.5.139 and praisonaiagents version 1.5.140.

## Affected products

- MervinPraison PraisonAI <= 4.5.138
- MervinPraison praisonaiagents <= 1.5.139

## Identifiers

- CVE-2026-40288
- GHSA-vc46-vw85-3wvm
- PYSEC-2026-477
- PYSEC-2026-488

## Timeline

- 2026-04-10: disclosed
- 2026-04-10: advisory
- 2026-04-10: patched: Fixed in PraisonAI 4.5.139 and praisonaiagents 1.5.140

## References

- [https://api.github.com/users/l3tchupkt](https://api.github.com/users/l3tchupkt)
- [https://github.com/l3tchupkt](https://github.com/l3tchupkt)
- [https://api.github.com/users/l3tchupkt/gists%7B/gist_id%7D](https://api.github.com/users/l3tchupkt/gists%7B/gist_id%7D)
- [https://api.github.com/users/l3tchupkt/repos](https://api.github.com/users/l3tchupkt/repos)
- [https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/191794587?v=4](https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/191794587?v=4)
- [https://api.github.com/users/l3tchupkt/events%7B/privacy%7D](https://api.github.com/users/l3tchupkt/events%7B/privacy%7D)

## Related threats

- [PraisonAI authentication bypass in A2U event streaming](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-57146-praisonai-a2u-incomplete-authentication-fix-leaves-current-serve)
- [PraisonAI sandbox escape when Landlock unavailable](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-57144-praisonai-sandlocksandbox-falls-back-to-unrestricted-subprocess)
- [PraisonAI recipe policy bypass via YAML-approved tools](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-57142-praisonai-recipe-workflow-policy-can-be-bypassed-by-declaring-and)
- [PraisonAI shell command injection in compute-bridged file tools](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-57117-praisonai-compute-bridged-file-tools-allow-shell-command)
- [PraisonAI AgentOS authentication bypass in FastAPI deployment](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-57116-praisonai-agentos-remains-unauthenticated-after-incomplete-fix)